Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt is professor of theology at Loyola University Maryland and a permanent deacon of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, assigned to the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen.
Church Times
"This is exactly the kind of little book that could be given to a
friend seeking to understand more of the faith, or which could be
used for catechesis: small enough to fit into a pocket, but rich
enough to provide hours of meditation." Publishers Weekly
"Bauerschmidt draws from various eras of Catholic thought, with
readings from Thomas Aquinas, Geoffrey Chaucer, Dorothy Day, and
Julian of Norwich as he builds his view for a resurgence of
demanding, communal love that will appeal across denominations.
Christians looking to rekindle their commitments will enjoy this
genial call to action." "Love--he has to be kidding--but
Bauerschmidt is not kidding. He has written an extraordinary
account of love to help us understand better what we are doing when
we say we believe in God. In doing so he has avoided the great
enemies of any attempt to write about love--that is, sentimentality
and rationalism. His chapter on friendship alone is worth the price
of the book. I cannot help but believe that this book is destined
to become a classic."
-- Stanley Hauerwas
Duke Divinity School "I make it a point to read at least one
'introduction to Christianity' book each year, to remind myself of
what it is I believe (or want to believe). This one is as beautiful
and beguiling an example of the genre as I have seen. It is humble,
not assuming it has a right to your attention but seeking instead
to invite your curiosity. It is generous and ecumenical, yielding
space to voices like those of St. Catherine of Siena, Dorothy Day,
and Dr. King. In our day of shrill and overheated religious
grandstanding, its quiet witness to the God of cruciform love made
me want to become a Christian all over again."
--Wesley Hill
Trinity School for Ministry "In his compelling and well-written
book, Bauerschmidt seeks to revitalize the affirmation that 'God is
love itself.' His argument will resonate especially with those who
struggle to see how Christianity matters in this postmodern world.
He shows how this love is actualized in the death and resurrection
of Jesus, a love shared by the friends of Jesus who gather in
Spirit-created communities of care and service. Bauerschmidt's is a
persuasive apologetic for the power and practicality of the core
Christian message."
-- Richard Peace
Fuller Theological Seminary "Edifying, uplifting,
instructive--these are the words that came to mind as I read The
Love That Is God. Frederick Bauerschmidt's book is a spiritual and
theological meditation on the radical claim that God is
love--presented through the stories and images of the Scriptures
and the wisdom of the church's beloved teachers: Augustine,
Catherine of Siena, Julian of Norwich, John Chrysostom, Richard of
St. Victor, Thomas Aquinas, Thérèse of Lisieux, Dorothy Day."
-- Robert Louis Wilken
University of Virginia "Drawing upon a rich variety of sources from
Scripture and tradition, Bauerschmidt has written an exquisite
meditation on five essential elements of the Christian faith. It
combines erudition with a beautiful simplicity of expression, which
will make its insights accessible and illuminating in many
educational contexts: college, university, and seminary
instruction, pastoral ministry, and catechetics. This little book
would also make a lovely gift of inspired spiritual reading for any
Christian to savor again and again."
-- Kelley Spoerl
Saint Anselm College "What is love, and how does it work? The
opening words of this relevant book's introduction provide a key to
how to be a Christian in our times: 'Being a Christian is
difficult. . . . difficult because love that goes all the way to
the cross is difficult.' Bauerschmidt describes obstacles to loving
and to being a Christian in our current culture and churches. Read
slowly and seriously, this book can change our personal lives,
renew our churches, and hopefully have a profound effect on our
digital and oppressive culture. This book could help heal our
painful polarizations. Heartfelt love (from and for God, ourselves,
and others) is what we can believe, and how we are to live.
Bauerschmidt makes this exceptionally clear and comprehensible for
all."
-- Dean Borgman
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary "In a period of destabilizing
world suffering such as we are now passing through, this is a book
that takes us back to the raw basics of our faith and restores hope
in the cruciform God of Love of whom it speaks so eloquently."
-- Sarah Coakley
from the foreword Church Times
"This is exactly the kind of little book that could be given to a
friend seeking to understand more of the faith, or which could be
used for catechesis: small enough to fit into a pocket, but rich
enough to provide hours of meditation."
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